Abandoned in a Tote: Mom and Boyfriend Left Homeschooled 12-Year-Old at Cemetery, Cops Say

The Tragic Case of Jacqueline "Mimi" Torres-Garcia

Newly released arrest warrants have revealed shocking details about the alleged abuse, murder, and disposal of a 12-year-old girl in Connecticut. According to the documents, Karla Garcia, 29, and Jonatan Nanita, 30, are charged with murder for allegedly killing Garcia’s daughter, Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres-Garcia, sometime in the fall of 2024. The child’s body was reportedly stored in a 40-gallon “tote” container, which the couple tried to hide in a cemetery before moving it to an abandoned house.

The arrest warrants describe the disturbing condition of the body, which showed signs of severe malnourishment rather than decomposition. “The skin appeared to be glued to the bones,” the documents state. “The condition of the corpse was due to severe malnourishment, not decomposition.” Police believe that Torres-Garcia suffered prolonged physical abuse and malnourishment before her death, which is believed to have occurred in the town of Farmington.

A Hidden Crime

Garcia and Nanita allegedly kept the youngster’s body in the family’s basement inside the tote before relocating to New Britain in March. At the time, Torres-Garcia was living with the couple and being homeschooled, which contributed to her disappearance going largely unnoticed. When the child’s body was found, it weighed approximately 26 to 27 pounds.

According to Garcia’s arrest warrant, she admitted to police that her daughter died in her bed but wasn’t sure exactly when. She claimed that Nanita came downstairs one day and told her that Torres-Garcia “was not breathing anymore.” Garcia stated that Nanita moved the body to the basement, but she never went down there to see what he did with it. The smell became so bad that they began staying at hotels and with friends.

Conflicting Accounts

The warrants outline how Garcia and Nanita gave different accounts of what happened to Torres-Garcia during their questioning by police. Garcia initially told New Britain detectives that her daughter “was fine, and visiting a friend.” She later admitted to arguing with Torres-Garcia over her pregnancy, claiming that the girl was upset because she was pregnant again. Garcia said that during the argument, Torres-Garcia pushed her down the stairs, causing both of them to fall. She claimed that Nanita became upset, kicked the girl in the head, and dragged her off. Garcia denied any knowledge of the tote containing her daughter.

Nanita, on the other hand, alleged that he was homeless after Garcia kicked him out and was contacted to dispose of a tote at her apartment building. He described seeing blood all over the walls and staircase and being told by Garcia that Torres-Garcia was missing. Nanita claimed he panicked and left the apartment without knowing what had happened. He returned the next day, and the blood was cleaned up. He insisted he never saw Torres-Garcia again and that they never talked about what happened.

Additional Suspects

Jackelyn Garcia, Karla’s sister, is also charged with risk of injury to a child, unlawful restraint, and child cruelty. According to the arrest warrants, she admitted to seeing her niece zip tied on a couple of occasions. She stated that she didn’t know how long Mimi was deprived of food but observed her to be skinny when she last saw her. Jackelyn also mentioned that Torres-Garcia was always in the corner of the house and that the zip ties started at the “end.”

Police say Jackelyn took photos of Torres-Garcia while she was “zip tied, severely malnourished, and laying on dog pee pads to use as a bathroom.” She told investigators that there was an incident where Mimi peed or defecated herself, and she watched Nanita pick her up by her shoulders and bring her downstairs. Nanita hit Torres-Garcia, and Jackelyn heard her crying. Despite this, she insisted she had “nothing to do” with her death but was aware of the tote that contained her body.

The Final Disposal

Nanita allegedly told police that he placed the tote in his truck, following Garcia’s instructions, and drove to a nearby cemetery to hide it. Jackelyn Garcia stated that the cemetery is where the sisters’ mother is buried and was “dug up.” However, Nanita couldn’t find a good location, so he drove the tote to an abandoned building and dumped it in the backyard.

Nanita’s new girlfriend spoke to police and confirmed that he drove to a cemetery, picked up a tote, and placed it in the trunk of his Acura before driving to 80 Clark St., where he removed the tote from the trunk and placed it at that location. She remembered that the tote smelled bad and later believed it may have contained a body.

The Aftermath

Torres-Garcia’s biological father, Victor Torres, and her stepmother, Frances Melendez, told local CBS affiliate WFSB that they didn’t find out she was missing until January 2025, months after investigators believe she was killed. Victor Torres said the last time he spoke to his daughter was on her 12th birthday, which was Jan. 29.

In a press conference earlier this month, Farmington Police Chief Paul Melanson called the case one of the worst he had seen in 35 years. “No child should ever have to endure such suffering,” he said.

Karla Garcia faces charges of murder and child cruelty, while Nanita is charged with murder and conspiracy.